26 September 2017 – MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe and South America, has today announced updated Caribbean itineraries. These updates have come due to the recent tragic weather events that have affected populations as well as individual destinations across the region, including Philipsburg (St Maarten), Road Town (British Virgin Islands), and Roseau (Dominica).
MSC Cruises remains committed to the Caribbean as a destination, with the continued operation of four ships over the next months, and the introduction of a fifth ship, MSC Seaside, from December. The Company has been working closely with officials, governments and other entities in the affected areas of the Caribbean in order to make an appropriate assessment about both existing destinations and those being introduced. Additionally, it will continue to work hand-in-hand with relevant parties to monitor and assess on an ongoing basis the availability of destinations that are not currently accessible.
In the meantime, guests sailing in the Caribbean aboard MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia and MSC Seaside will experience an updated array of alternative Caribbean destinations for their cruise holiday. Highlights of updated itineraries, by ship, are as follows:
MSC Divina
MSC Divina, on the three Eastern Caribbean itineraries departing from Miami on 30 September, 14 October and 28 October and that formerly included Philipsburg (St Maarten) and San Juan (Puerto Rico), will now cruise the following Western itinerary:
• Miami/Florida (USA)
• At sea
• Montego Bay (Jamaica)
• George Town (Cayman Islands)
• Costa Maya (Mexico)
• At sea
• Nassau (Bahamas)
• Miami/Florida (USA)
Starting with the itinerary departing from Miami on November 11, on 7-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries, MSC Divina will now call at St John (Antigua and Barbuda), instead of at Philipsburg (St Maarten).
For MSC Divina long-cruises departing from Miami in January and February 2018:
• Departing 03 January 2018: the ship will call at Oranjestad (Aruba) and Willemstad (Curaçao) instead of at Road Town/Tortola (British Virgin Islands) and Basseterre (St Kitts & Nevis)
• Departing 25 January 2018: San Juan (Puerto Rico) will replace Philipsburg (St Maarten)
• Departing 15 February 2018: the ship will call at San Juan (Puerto Rico), Bridgetown (Barbados) and Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe) instead of at Philipsburg (St Maarten), Road Town/Tortola (British Virgin Islands) and St John (Antigua and Barbuda)
MSC Fantasia: 25 November – 31 March 2018
On the 7-night itineraries from Forte de France (Martinique) and Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe), MSC Fantasia will now call at La Romana (Dominican Republic), instead of at Road Town/Tortola (British Virgin Islands), and at Basseterre (St Kitts & Nevis), instead of at Roseau (Dominica), while spending an additional day at sea instead of calling at Philipsburg (St Maarten).
MSC Seaside: 23 December – 17 March 2018
On her Eastern Caribbean itineraries departing from Miami, MSC Seaside will now call at St John (Antigua and Barbuda), instead of at Philipsburg (St Maarten).
Furthermore, the itineraries of MSC Opera and MSC Armonia, serving the Caribbean from Havana (Cuba) remain unchanged and will continue to call at attractive destinations including Montego Bay, Georgetown and Cozumel.
For additional updated itinerary information, please contact your travel advisor.
ENDS